Kuala lumpur: The national women’s junior hockey squad carry a ‘no surrender’ fighting spirit as they prepare for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women’s Junior World Cup (JWC) 2025 in Santiago, Chile, from Dec 1 to 13. Head coach Lailin Abu Hassan acknowledged the tough challenge awaiting Malaysia in Group A, where they must face three world hockey powerhouses. Malaysia are scheduled to open their campaign against Japan on Dec 2 before taking on the hosts two days later, followed by defending champions the Netherlands on Dec 6.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lailin Abu Hassan commented on the demanding nature of the competition, pointing out the formidable opponents in their group. ‘Realistically, we have the defending champions the Netherlands, hosts Chile, and Japan, who finished seventh in the previous edition. So it is indeed very difficult for us to progress beyond the group stage,’ he said. Despite this, the team aims to secure at least third place in the group, acknowledging the lack of international competition experience. The coach also expressed an aspiration for the team to finish within the top 20.

Meanwhile, team manager Datuk Mohd Sayuti Abdul Samat highlighted the comprehensive preparations and exposure gained through recent matches against Jiangsu club from China. He noted that these interactions have contributed to maturing the playing style of the nation’s young players. ‘I hope the players can showcase their best performance after undergoing long training sessions. The exposure against Jiangsu provided valuable experience that can help them in Santiago,’ he said. He expressed optimism about the team’s potential to advance to the second round, citing the strong spirit they have shown.

The Young Tigress’ qualification for the prestigious tournament is particularly meaningful, as they earned their spot on merit for the first time in history after finishing fifth at the 2024 Women’s Junior Asia Cup.